Discover Ferndale

A stay in Ferndale can appeal to a range of interests: river scenery, wetlands, historic sites, and recreational activities. A paved riverfront trail, seasonal cabin tours, and activities such as fishing or disc golf each offer a different focus. Free public events are also part of the city’s recurring recreational program. If you’re looking for a hotel, it helps to first decide what brings you to the area: Would you mainly like to enjoy the scenery, explore the history, or plan a specific activity? This distinction makes it easier to choose without treating the different offerings as interchangeable.

Riverfront, wetlands, and trails

Centennial Riverwalk Park has a paved trail along the Nooksack River. Hovander Homestead Park covers almost 350 acres and has more than a mile of riverfront. Tennant Lake is a 624-acre area with a shallow lake, extensive wetlands, fields, woodland, and a shoreline. Tennant Lake is therefore considerably larger than Hovander Homestead Park, which covers almost 350 acres. Riverwalk offers a specific paved trail by the river; the two natural areas differ in their size and features. This distinction can help you choose between a riverfront trail and an area with a lake, wetlands, fields, and woodland. Acreage and riverfront length are different measures.

History and nature experiences

At the historic Hovander House, accessible walkways provide access. In the Fragrance Garden, you can touch and smell the plants. The house offers a connection to history, while the garden focuses on touch and scent. Tennant Lake, in turn, is characterized by its lake, wetlands, fields, woodland, and shoreline. This makes a hands-on plant experience distinct from an area with several types of landscape. Pioneer Park is home to historic pioneer cabins. Tours of the cabins are offered every year from May 15 through September 15. If you plan to take a tour, check the date before your visit. The date range gives the tours a specific seasonal context. Hovander House and the pioneer cabins offer different connections to history; the tours are specifically of the cabins. Hovander Homestead Park is also home to rabbits, chickens, and waterfowl.

Recreation and events

Vanderyacht Park offers fishing access as well as disc golf. These activities provide different recreational options. Ferndale hosts a series of free public events and recreational activities every year. If a particular event is important to your travel dates, check the schedule in advance. When planning around a tour or event, the date matters: the cabin tours run during a seasonal window, and a specific event should fit your travel dates.

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